East St. Louis Township Supervisor Alvin Parks, who is barred from running for office due to campaign finance violations, is hoping to strike a deal with the state that could get his name on the ballot for an upcoming election.
Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: State lawmakers pressure House Speaker Michael Madigan to answer questions about secret payments to aide fired after sexual harassment claims
A fellow Chicago Democrat, and others, have demanded House Speaker Michael Madigan explain secret payments to a disgraced former political captain or give up his position at the helm of Illinois’ Democratic Party.
State Sen. Iris Martinez, D-Chicago, said the speaker’s “cronies” paid off Kevin Quinn after he was fired following allegations of sexual harassment by a campaign worker while the Speaker publicly promised to take charge of the issue of harassment within the party.
Chicago Tribune: A new report finds many states are in good shape to weather a recession. Illinois is not one of them.
A new report finds that many states are in better shape than ever to weather a potential recession.
The report released Monday by Moody’s Analytics says 28 states have enough cash on hand to survive a moderate recession without having to resort to spending cuts or tax hikes. An additional 12 states are only slightly short, meaning they also could likely avoid taking drastic financial measures.
Chicago Sun-Times: CPD superintendent fired: ‘Eddie Johnson repeatedly lied to me,’ Lightfoot says
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday summarily fired the retiring police superintendent she had celebrated less than a month ago, accusing Eddie Johnson of “lying to me and lying to the public” about an embarrassing drinking-and-driving incident in mid-October.
Lightfoot acted quickly after reviewing the findings of Inspector General Joe Ferguson’s report on the Oct. 17 incident.
Chicago Tribune: State panel faces Dec. 31 deadline for property tax relief recommendations
Seeking to alleviate the growing burden of property taxes for Illinois homeowners, a group of legislators is considering a host of options that include consolidating school districts and allowing voters across the state to dissolve units of local government.
The legislative task force, created this summer by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, has a Dec. 31 deadline to deliver its recommendations. Its report is expected to lead to “very multifaceted” — and likely controversial — legislation this spring, said Rep. Sam Yingling, the Grayslake Democrat chairing the panel.
Chicago Tribune: Former state Sen. Toi Hutchinson now adviser to Gov. J.B. Pritzker on recreational pot, raising question of whether her original job title was unconstitutional
In September, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration made a splash by announcing Toi Hutchinson would oversee the implementation of Illinois’ new recreational cannabis program, laid out in landmark legislation the then-state senator played a key role in drafting.
A Pritzker spokeswoman said in a Sept. 26 email that Hutchinson’s salary would be $220,000, and that “the title is in statute so it’s Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer,” a job quickly dubbed “pot czar.”
Herald & Review: East St. Louis politician who owes state $149,560 in fines wants election ban lifted
Parks is set to appear before the Illinois State Board of Elections next month in hopes of reaching a settlement, according to Matt Dietrich, the state board’s public information officer.
Chicago Sun-Times: You can weigh in on public pot use, expungement for weed crimes at community hearings this week
Chicagoans will have two chances this week to weigh in on some of the lingering issues related to the imminent legalization of recreational weed, including the licensing of businesses that could allow on-site pot use.
The meetings, announced Sunday by Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office, will be held Thursday at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson, and Friday at Chicago State University, 9501 S. King Drive. Both will start at 6 p.m.
Chicago Sun-Times: Illinois sports betting market could rival Nevada’s — once it finally launches
Sports betting was a pet project of Gov. J.B. Pritzker as part of Illinois’ sprawling gambling expansion law that passed over the summer, and lucrative industry projections from companies aiming to stake out an early cut of the action help explain why.
State gambling regulators still haven’t set a timeline for when sports betting will be operational in Illinois, but once it is, fans could soon be shelling out almost as much money every year here as in Nevada, by one company’s estimate.